Patents by Inventor Kevin James Rhodes

Kevin James Rhodes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11975622
    Abstract: A charging inlet assembly includes a housing extending between a front and a rear. The housing has a DC section including DC terminal channels that are configured to receive DC terminals. The housing has an AC section including an AC module chamber. The DC section is configured for mating with a DC charging connector at the front. The AC section is configured for mating with an AC charging connector at the front. The charging inlet assembly includes an AC charging module removably received in the AC module chamber. The AC charging module includes an AC insert extending between an insert front and an insert rear. The AC insert includes AC terminal channels between the insert front and the insert rear. The AC charging module include AC terminals received in the AC terminal channels. The AC terminals are terminated to ends of AC cables extending from the insert rear. The AC terminals and the AC cables are removable from the housing with the AC insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Clara Marguerite Rhodes, Hurley Chester Moll, Matthew Bryan Hitchcock, Aaron James de Chazal, Kevin John Peterson
  • Patent number: 11919409
    Abstract: A charging inlet assembly for an electric vehicle includes a charging inlet housing having a chamber at the rear and a power connector at a front for receiving a charging connector. The power connector includes terminal channels. The charging inlet assembly includes charging terminals each having a mating pin and a terminating end. The charging inlet assembly includes a terminal position assurance device coupled to the charging inlet housing having a terminal locating plate located in the chamber to interface with the terminating ends of the charging terminals. The terminal position assurance device includes an actuator at an exterior of the charging inlet housing to operate the terminal position assurance device from the exterior of the charging inlet housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin John Peterson, Clara Marguerite Rhodes, Hurley Chester Moll, Aaron James de Chazal
  • Patent number: 11881060
    Abstract: Electric vehicle predictive range estimating systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining an initial state of charge (SOC) for an energy source of a vehicle at a first point in time; determining one or more boundary conditions for the vehicle during a time frame extending from the first point in time to a second point in time, the one or more boundary conditions causing a loss in the energy source during the time frame; determining a predicted future SOC for the energy source based on the one or more boundary conditions and the initial SOC; and predicting an availability of a vehicle operating condition based on the predicted future SOC for the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Erik Christen, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11628831
    Abstract: A method for autonomously navigating a subject vehicle from among a plurality of vehicles in an environment includes determining whether the subject vehicle is to be moved from a first post-production location to a second post-production location within the environment based on transportation scheduling data associated with the subject vehicle. The method includes executing a navigation routine in response to the transportation scheduling data indicating the subject vehicle is to be moved. The navigation routine includes obtaining location data associated with the plurality of vehicles, identifying a vehicle path for the subject vehicle based on the location data of the plurality of vehicles, the first post-production location, the second post-production location, or a combination thereof, and instructing the subject vehicle to autonomously travel along the vehicle path to the second post-production location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Kevin James Rhodes, Seth Loveall, Jonathan Hair
  • Patent number: 11487914
    Abstract: A system and a method are described for laying out components in a vehicle workspace. The method may comprise: receiving, as input, a plurality of components for a vehicle workspace; determining an optimization of a routing of a plurality of connections, each of which connect to at least one of the plurality of components; and providing an output indicative of the routing within the vehicle workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Kevin James Rhodes, Erik J. Christen
  • Patent number: 11351884
    Abstract: Power to the box systems and methods are provided herein. An example system includes a human machine interface of a vehicle, a power to the box system of the vehicle, and a controller having a processor and a memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to determine actuation of a power to the box system of a vehicle, determine usage parameters of the power to the box system of the vehicle during a period of use extending from the actuation to a terminating event, generate a message that includes information indicative of the usage parameters; and transmit the message to a receiving party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin James Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20220080955
    Abstract: A method for autonomously navigating a subject vehicle from among a plurality of vehicles in an environment includes determining whether the subject vehicle is to be moved from a first post-production location to a second post-production location within the environment based on transportation scheduling data associated with the subject vehicle. The method includes executing a navigation routine in response to the transportation scheduling data indicating the subject vehicle is to be moved. The navigation routine includes obtaining location data associated with the plurality of vehicles, identifying a vehicle path for the subject vehicle based on the location data of the plurality of vehicles, the first post-production location, the second post-production location, or a combination thereof, and instructing the subject vehicle to autonomously travel along the vehicle path to the second post-production location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Kevin James Rhodes, Seth Loveall, Jonathan Hair
  • Publication number: 20210327161
    Abstract: Electric vehicle predictive range estimating systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining an initial state of charge (SOC) for an energy source of a vehicle at a first point in time; determining one or more boundary conditions for the vehicle during a time frame extending from the first point in time to a second point in time, the one or more boundary conditions causing a loss in the energy source during the time frame; determining a predicted future SOC for the energy source based on the one or more boundary conditions and the initial SOC; and predicting an availability of a vehicle operating condition based on the predicted future SOC for the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Erik Christen, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11145141
    Abstract: Electric vehicle predictive range estimating systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining an initial state of charge (SOC) for an energy source of a vehicle at a first point in time; determining one or more boundary conditions for the vehicle during a time frame extending from the first point in time to a second point in time, the one or more boundary conditions causing a loss in the energy source during the time frame; determining a predicted future SOC for the energy source based on the one or more boundary conditions and the initial SOC; and predicting an availability of a vehicle operating condition based on the predicted future SOC for the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Erik Christen, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20210078432
    Abstract: Power to the box systems and methods are provided herein. An example system includes a human machine interface of a vehicle, a power to the box system of the vehicle, and a controller having a processor and a memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to determine actuation of a power to the box system of a vehicle, determine usage parameters of the power to the box system of the vehicle during a period of use extending from the actuation to a terminating event, generate a message that includes information indicative of the usage parameters; and transmit the message to a receiving party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin James Rhodes
  • Patent number: 10913369
    Abstract: An exemplary charging energy recapture assembly includes a fluid loop outside a traction battery of an electrified vehicle. The fluid loop communicates a charger fluid through a charger to the electrified vehicle and returns the charger fluid to a charging station without combining the charger fluid with a vehicle fluid. An exemplary charging energy recapture method includes circulating a charger fluid through a charger between a charging station and an electrified vehicle without the charger fluid commingling with a vehicle fluid or communicating through a traction battery of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin James Rhodes, Erik J. Christen, Pallav Sohoni, Joseph Giacchina
  • Patent number: 10870433
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller, programmed to responsive to detecting, via a vehicle sensor, an obstacle blocking a route on which the vehicle is traversing, report the obstacle and blockage to a server via a wireless connection; responsive to receiving a command from the server instructing to perform an exploratory maneuver to remove the obstacle from the route, execute the command via an autonomous driving controller; and report an implementation result of the exploratory maneuver to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Erik J. Christen, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20200372126
    Abstract: A system and a method are described for laying out components in a vehicle workspace. The method may comprise: receiving, as input, a plurality of components for a vehicle workspace; determining an optimization of a routing of a plurality of connections, each of which connect to at least one of the plurality of components; and providing an output indicative of the routing within the vehicle workspace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Kevin James Rhodes, Erik J. Christen
  • Patent number: 10836371
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine selectively coupled to the engine, a traction battery, an electrical outlet, and first and second power inverters. The first power inverter is configured to transfer power between the traction battery and the electric machine. The second power inverter is configured to transfer power between the traction battery and the electrical outlet. A human-machine interface (HMI) has a selectable option indicative of a user's desire to use the electrical outlet at a next destination. A controller of the vehicle includes a processor and memory having stored therein a first battery state of charge (SOC) target and a second battery SOC target that is greater than the first SOC target. The controller is programmed to, in response to the selectable option being selected, switch from the first SOC target to the second SOC target and command charging of the traction battery responsive to a measured battery SOC being less than the second target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harish Thiruvengadam, Erik J. Christen, Kevin James Rhodes, Chad Bednar
  • Publication number: 20200324778
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller, programmed to responsive to detecting, via a vehicle sensor, an obstacle blocking a route on which the vehicle is traversing, report the obstacle and blockage to a server via a wireless connection; responsive to receiving a command from the server instructing to perform an exploratory maneuver to remove the obstacle from the route, execute the command via an autonomous driving controller; and report an implementation result of the exploratory maneuver to the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Brendan DIAMOND, Erik J. CHRISTEN, Kevin James RHODES
  • Patent number: 10801847
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, generating a warning signal to identify any electrical characteristics along a vehicle route that differs from a current vehicle electrical characteristic. An electrified vehicle system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery, an electric machine configured to receive electric power from the battery to drive vehicle wheels, and a system control that generates a warning signal to identify any electrical characteristics along a vehicle route that differ from a current vehicle electrical characteristic. In one example, the electrical characteristic comprises at least a type of plug and/or socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin James Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20200298724
    Abstract: A state-of-charge system for an autonomous vehicle may include a battery having an associated contactor to selectively connect the battery to a load, and a processor coupled to the associated contactor and configured to control the contactor to disconnect the battery from the load to obtain an open-circuit-voltage (OCV) measurement in response to detecting no occupants inside the vehicle after duration of an interval from a previous OCV measurement exceeds an associated threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin James RHODES, Erik J. CHRISTEN
  • Publication number: 20200286305
    Abstract: Electric vehicle predictive range estimating systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining an initial state of charge (SOC) for an energy source of a vehicle at a first point in time; determining one or more boundary conditions for the vehicle during a time frame extending from the first point in time to a second point in time, the one or more boundary conditions causing a loss in the energy source during the time frame; determining a predicted future SOC for the energy source based on the one or more boundary conditions and the initial SOC; and predicting an availability of a vehicle operating condition based on the predicted future SOC for the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Erik Christen, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Patent number: 10711506
    Abstract: A charge port assembly includes a port, an iris door movable to expose the port, and a motorized actuating assembly configured to move the iris door between a closed position in which the port is concealed and an open position in which the port is exposed. The iris door may be automatically dilated to the open position in response to a predefined prompt from an authorized user or if a charging cord is approaching the charge port assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin James Rhodes, Pallav Sohoni
  • Patent number: 10513198
    Abstract: An exemplary charging system includes, among other things, a charger that conveys energy wirelessly to an electrified vehicle when the charger is disposed against a surface of the electrified vehicle. The energy is used to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle. An exemplary charging method includes, among other things, conveying energy wirelessly from a charger to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle. The charger is disposed against a surface of the electrified vehicle during the conveying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin James Rhodes, Erik Christen